Category: Mount Vernon Nazarene University

WNZR’s Meet the Staff Monday with Joey Bennett

Joey Bennett is bringing energy, enthusiasm, and heart to the WNZR radio team this year. A freshman Communication and Digital Media major at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Joey is already making her mark as a DJ. You can catch her live on WNZR every Wednesday from 2–4 PM, where she shares great music and an uplifting presence with listeners.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Originally from Weirton, West Virginia, Joey has long felt a special connection to MVNU. Her home church was deeply involved with the university, and she says she always felt at home whenever she came to visit campus. That sense of belonging made her decision to attend MVNU a natural one.

Joey discovered her interest in radio through her communication classes. Curious and willing to try something new, she stepped into the studio—and quickly found her place behind the mic. Now as part of the WNZR team, she’s embracing the opportunity to grow her skills and connect with others through broadcasting.

Outside of the studio, Joey is just as active. She cheers on the MVNU game day and competition squads and has been involved in cheerleading since elementary school. In fact, she has even spent time coaching along the way. One of her favorite MVNU memories so far has been attending Sonfest and reconnecting with friends from her home church.

When it comes to music, Joey’s favorite artist is Katy Nichole, and her favorite song is “Have Your Way.” She even had the opportunity to see Katy Nichole live at the K-LOVE Center—an experience she describes as incredibly exciting and unforgettable.

Joey’s interests don’t stop there. She loves crawfish and crab legs (though chicken is always a good option, too), enjoys sleeping in when she can, and values taking time to relax and reset for the week ahead. She credits one of her former teachers, Mrs. Hores—who taught life skills, food prep, and sewing clubs—as someone who made a lasting impact on her life.

A fun fact about Joey? She has a unique hidden talent—she can contort her body! But beyond her talents and activities, her faith is what guides her most. Joey shares that God has been teaching her to trust Him fully and “let God take the pen back” in writing her life story.

Two of her favorite Bible verses reflect that trust:

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Looking ahead, Joey dreams of becoming a TV news reporter and anchor. With her passion for communication, heart for ministry, and growing experience at WNZR, she’s already well on her way.

Be sure to tune in Wednesdays from 2–4 PM to hear Joey on WNZR!

Click HERE to check out WNZR.fm!

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WNZR’s Meet the Staff Monday with Brock Hankins

This week’s Meet the Staff Monday on WNZR features Sophomore/Junior, Brock Hankins.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Brock is from Mount Vernon and chose to attend MVNU because of his connection to the CCP classes he had already taken here. Thanks to those early college credits, he came in with 50 credits completed — which means at just 19 years old, he’s considered a Sophomore/Junior.

His interest in radio grew out of his longtime love for music and the arts. When Brock decided to major in communication, trying out WNZR and radio felt like a natural step. Now, he serves as a DJ and also helps with the Sportscasting video team. But he doesn’t stop there. Brock works as an office intern for the communications department, hopes to be involved in SGA, and stays active in many areas around campus.

One major highlight of his college experience so far has been attending CMBU. That trip opened significant doors for him, including the opportunity to become one of two CMBU interns. He now works alongside fellow intern Naomi Kinne in that role. Brock describes the CMBU trip as one of his greatest memories because of the opportunities it created.

Much of Brock’s college experience focuses on his campus involvement and being a member of the worship team at The Church at Chapel Hill. His faith is an important part of his life. Although he grew up Christian, he recently came to terms with truly making his faith his own, and he shares how God has been working in his heart during this season.

His favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 4:32:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

This verse is especially meaningful to him because of his struggle with forgiveness, and it reminds him to choose kindness and forgiveness daily.

Outside of school and work, Brock enjoys catching up on sleep and going out to eat with his family on the weekends. His favorite people in the world are his parents, sister, and grandma — especially because of how they support him in everything he does. He also laughs about a funny family memory during a snowstorm when his grandma still wanted to go to Chili’s first thing in the morning.

A few fun facts about Brock: his favorite artist is Lauren Daigle, and his favorite song is “Thank God I Do.” His favorite food is Italian — specifically Chicken Alfredo. And he’s secretly had the privilege of going to Hawaii twice.

You can hear Brock Hankins on Mondays from 2-4pm.

Click HERE to check out WNZR’s website and see and the other WNZR staff!

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February MVNU Update with Rev. Jon Nicholas – Executive Director of Enrollment for the College of Arts & Sciences

The Morning Thing shared the February MVNU Update on Friday.
Rev. Jon Nicholas was our guest. He serves MVNU as the Executive Director of Enrollment for the College of Arts & Sciences.

He shared a wonderful update on enrollment projections for the 2026-2027 academic year.
He gave us insight on how his team works with prospective students, including how a campus visit is tailored to the student’s interest.

We talked about what makes MVNU unique and special and how a positive life-changing culture is vital for the college experience. You can sign up for a tour and see the MVNU Enrollment calendar at mvnu.edu

Click HERE or on the link below to hear the full conversation.

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Why Still Hope Was a Story Filmmaker and MVNU Grad Richie Johns Felt Called to Tell

Filmmaker Richie Johns recently spoke with WNZR’s Eric Brown to talk about the heart behind his new film, Still Hope. A graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Richie shared how the project began after he learned about a story inspired by real survivors of human trafficking—a story that stayed with him and ultimately led to this film.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Still Hope weaves together elements from two true accounts into one character, following her journey from abduction to rescue and then into the long, often difficult road of healing. Richie explained that he and his wife, Bethany, originally joined the project as producers. He later stepped into the director’s role when the team felt the story needed to be stewarded by a filmmaker of faith who understood both the weight of the subject and the hope at its core.

What ultimately drew Richie in was the film’s mission. While raising awareness about human trafficking is important, he said Still Hope is about more than that—it’s about pointing people toward redemption, restoration, and hope.

Richie also talked about the challenge of telling such a heavy story while still holding onto that hope. The film approaches the topic with care and restraint, acknowledging the darkness of trafficking in the first half while intentionally shifting focus in the second half to recovery and healing—an aspect of survivor stories that is often overlooked.

One of the film’s central themes is forgiveness, which Richie described not as weakness, but as a courageous step toward freedom and peace. By partnering with real-life, faith-based recovery organizations, Still Hope remains grounded in authenticity and shows that healing is a process that takes time, support, and faith.

As a first-time director, Richie shared that the experience was both humbling and emotionally demanding. Balancing multiple roles alongside his wife Bethany, who served as lead producer, came with a learning curve, and the emotional weight of the story often carried beyond the set.

He also praised the cast—especially lead actress Luna Rivera—and acknowledged how challenging certain scenes were for everyone involved.

Ultimately, Richie said Still Hope is meant to be more than just a film. It’s a call to action—created to educate, mobilize, and equip people to move beyond awareness and into meaningful action against human trafficking.

Richie also spoke about partnering with Natalie Grant and Hope for Justice, sharing how their involvement strengthened the film’s message and impact. Audiences will see Natalie at the end of the movie offering practical ways to get involved and support organizations already doing vital work on the front lines.

Still Hope opens nationwide February 5–9 in more than 900 theaters, with several Columbus-area theaters hosting premiere night showings on Thursday. Richie encouraged listeners to see the film in theaters and support independent filmmaking.

Click HERE for the trailer!

Click HERE for tickets to Still Hope, showtimes, and additional resources!

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WNZR’s Meet the Staff Monday with Brook Abella

This week’s Meet the Staff Monday on WNZR features Junior, Brook Abella.

Brook is from Bellefontaine, Ohio. She is a double major in Communication & Media (Digital Media) and Visual Arts.

She shares what brought her to MVNU and how she found her way to WNZR through her love for Christian Music.

Book Abella talks about her passion for sharing the gospel through media and how God has opened doors for her music career.

She shares some favorites including favorite memories, artists, foods and her role in worship ministry every weekend at her home church. We also learn that Brook Abella will be joining The Afternoon Drive on Thursdays.  

Brook Abella’s favorite bible verses are found in Psalms 34:1-4. She shares how these verses help to shape her life.  

Click HERE to enjoy the conversation or click the link below.

You can hear Book Abella on WNZR on Thursdays 3pm – 5pm.

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A Year of Opportunity: Dr. Carson Castleman Shares Encouraging Updates as MVNU Prepares for Spring Semester

As Mount Vernon Nazarene University prepares to welcome students back for spring semester, MVNU President Dr. Carson Castleman recently sat down with WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart to share updates, reflections, and a look ahead at what’s shaping up to be an exciting season for the University.

Click HERE for the full conversation!

Dr. Castleman kicked things off with a lighthearted moment, sharing a funny story from Christmas celebrations with his family. That warm, personal touch set the tone for a conversation filled with optimism, gratitude, and big-picture vision.

Looking back on the fall semester and ahead to 2025 and beyond, Dr. Castleman shared encouraging enrollment news. As MVNU moves toward spring semester and into 2026, applications, acceptances, and deposits are up 30% from the highest numbers seen in the past seven years. It’s a strong sign of momentum and confidence in the University’s mission and direction.

The conversation also highlighted two important leadership transitions at MVNU. Dr. Michaelia Black has been hired as Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer. She will serve part-time over the next few months and transition to a full-time role in May 2026. Additionally, Dr. Joshua Black has joined MVNU as the new Executive Director of Human Resources and Training & Development. This revised role reflects the University’s growing emphasis on training and development across campus, and the position now serves on the President’s Cabinet, ensuring that MVNU’s “Chief People Officer” has a seat at the table.

Academically, MVNU continues to grow and evolve across both CAPS (College of Adults and Professional Studies) and the traditional College of Arts and Sciences. CAPS is launching two new programs—a Master’s in Speech Language Pathology and a Doctorate of Business Administration—with accreditors scheduled to visit campus in February. CAPS enrollment has seen remarkable growth, expanding from 487 students in October 2023 to 900 students in January 2026.

On the traditional side, program evaluations are underway, with decisions expected throughout the semester. Encouraging growth is also being seen among incoming freshmen, particularly in Nursing and Engineering programs.

Dr. Castleman also highlighted several events on MVNU’s 2026 calendar, including athletic competitions in Ariel Arena, Spring Break ministry trips, and an upcoming Pastors Training Event. His upcoming travel schedule includes trips to Dallas, Texas, Florida, and Virginia as he continues building relationships and representing MVNU.

As students prepare to return from Christmas break, Dr. Castleman shared a special message of encouragement, along with appreciation for faculty and staff. He challenged the MVNU community to embrace 2026 as the “Year of Opportunity.”

Looking ahead, Dr. Castleman outlined his key priorities for the year: securing accreditation for the new CAPS programs, increasing enrollment, and focusing on organizational growth through new revenue streams and business opportunities. He also shared plans to work closely with the Board of Trustees on a 2027 strategic plan that will guide the University through the next five years.

The conversation closed with a heartfelt request for prayer—for MVNU’s continued growth and for Dr. Castleman and his family throughout the month of January. As spring semester begins, the message is clear: MVNU is moving forward with purpose, faith, and confidence in what lies ahead.

Click HERE to find out more about MVNU!

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The Morning Thing Friday Favorites – Memories from 2025

Happy New Year from The Morning Thing!
As we bring in the new year, we took a moment to look back on 2025 and share our favorite memories from this past year. Thanks for listening and making us a part of your mornings!

Click HERE to hear from the hosts or click the link below.

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Joe Rinehart and Jayme McMillan share about Food For The Hungry Live!

Joe Rinehart and Jayme McMillan are both assistant professors of communications at MVNU, and they lead the live broadcast for Food For The Hungry.

They both share what it takes to make this event possible and why they believe that it is important. They also explain the details behind the broadcast.

The Live Broadcast begins on Friday, Dec. 12 at 9 A.M. and continues until 5 P.M.

FFTH Live will be available on 100.9 FM and 93.7 HD2 – WMVO, with video stream at www.mvnu.tv and the FFTH YouTube channel. Updates will be given throughout the day on 90.9FM WNZR, 93.7 The Super Q, and FFTH social media. 
FFTH Live will air from the Memorial Theater in Knox Memorial on East High Street in Mount Vernon.

This year’s Broadcast, as always, is a celebration of giving. The Broadcast highlights many community members and organizations presenting their contributions to the Drive. 
The FFTH Winter Grants recipients will be featured throughout the day. FFTH and Psi Iota Xi will also recognize several Knox County school and student collection winners.  

For more information about Food For The Hungry click HERE!

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